Prologue

This was a long-planned defection. Idiye had been in India for three years after coming from distant France, and he no longer wished to stay, he did not want to. Idiye ran wildly, escaping from the city of Mysore and into the jungles on the outskirts. The heavy rain soaked everything on him—his clothes, his musket. He had privately traversed this path many times, so he was not worried about getting lost. Moreover, the shadow of the Selinga Temple was already faintly visible. He had privately traversed this path many times, so he was not worried about getting lost. Moreover, the shadow of the Selinga Temple was already faintly visible.

Bana, Bana Troya, my dear friend, I have long grown weary of this place, weary of everything here! The endless wars and killings, death, hunger, and the plague! I detest this life, I detest it! Dear friend, I am about to bid farewell to everything here, you should be happy for me. I wish you good luck... Idiye has already moved the ladder over the wall. Dear friend, I am about to bid farewell to everything here, you should be happy for me. I wish you good luck... Idiye has already moved the ladder over the wall

Idiye clung to the ladder, his hands groping over the face of the statue. Finally, he stopped at the statue's eyes, his hands trembling incessantly. Without hesitation, he drew the sharp knife from his waist, the tip aimed at the statue's eyes

Open the door! Open the door! The butt of Idiye's gun struck the wooden door of the temple, and the thick wooden door emitted a dull "thud thud" sound

"Hurry, hurry, go up and catch him!" Bana shouted loudly. Several soldiers rushed to the stone wall, but faced with the moss-covered stone wall, they were at a loss. "Human ladder, quickly form a human ladder!" Bana urged. However, the stone wall was too high; it would require at least four people stacked together to be effective. None of those soldiers had shoulders strong enough to bear the weight of three people.

Several armed French soldiers are patrolling among the people

Idiye Alue ran wildly in the rain

Haha..." Idiye laughed heartily, "Bana, my friend, shoot! If your firearm can make a sound, I would rather die by your gun.

Idiye closed the door behind him, raised his arm, and sniffed the scent of blood. He wiped the blood from the knife with his clothing and sheathed the knife back at his waist. Through the rain-soaked courtyard of the temple, Idiye saw another door, the main entrance to the shrine. Tall and magnificent. It was surely ajar, Idiye knew, as overly confident Hindus believed that everyone was as timid as they were in offending the deities. However, they had forgotten the words of the sages: excessive confidence is equivalent to foolishness. It was surely ajar, Idiye knew, as overly confident Hindus believed that everyone was as timid as they were in offending the deities. However, they had forgotten the words of the sages: excessive confidence is equivalent to foolishness

In front of the palace gate, a wide post road, a dense crowd of people.

The wind and rain pour down relentlessly

The wind rises from the ground and vanishes into thin air. It sweeps by, carrying dust, in a strange manner.

People pray with great trepidation: Brahma ...! ... O wise and great Brahman! Let the lost darkness find its way home!

September 7, 1750, night

Idiye has already excavated the left eye of the statue and is now thrusting a sharp knife towards the right eye of the statue

Idiye pushed Hanuman away from his shoulder and groped to stand up. He rubbed the blood-stained dagger on his clothes a couple of times before returning it to his waist. Suddenly, Idiye felt something was amiss; he clearly had two Buddha eyes in the palm of his left hand, but now it felt like only one remained. He used his right hand to search his left palm and indeed found only one. Idiye panicked and quickly put the Buddha eye in his mouth, bending down. The temple was pitch black, and Idiye could only feel around on the floor with his hands. Idiye panicked again, quickly putting the Buddha eye in his mouth and bending down. The temple was completely dark, and Idiye could only search the floor with his hands. However, he found nothing. Idiye knew he could not stay here long; otherwise, he would lose his life, which was not the outcome he desired. There was no time to waste; he had to leave immediately. Idiye drew the dagger from his waist once more, held it in his mouth, rolled up the cuff of his left pant leg, pinched his calf, took the knife in his right hand, and stabbed it into his calf. The sharp blade glided over the muscle, cutting a gash in his calf, and blood gushed out. Idiye had no time to deal with the blood; he spat the Buddha eye into his left palm and forcefully stuffed it into the freshly cut flesh. The pain was excruciating. Cutting his own leg hurt, and it would affect his speed of movement, but there was no other choice; this was the best plan. Even if he were caught due to his leg injury, there was a chance he might survive. However, if he kept the Buddha eye on him, whether it fell into the hands of the French, the British, or the natives, he would undoubtedly die. Even if he were caught due to his leg injury, there was a chance he might survive. However, if he kept the Buddha eye on him, whether it fell into the hands of the French, the British, or the natives, he would undoubtedly die. Furthermore, on such a rainy night, wherever he placed this precious Buddha eye, it could easily be lost; it was better to put it inside his own flesh. Even if he unfortunately lost his life, the Buddha eye could not fall into the hands of others.

"Idiyeh! Idiyeh! Come out! I see you, you can't escape..." The voice of Captain Bana Troya echoed outside the temple. Bana was Idiyeh's superior and friend, and on the battlefield, Idiyeh had saved Bana's life three times. However, this time, Sergeant Bana Troya had come with men to capture the deserter Idiyeh Alue. Bana was a person who distinguished between public and private matters; he did not want Idiyeh to escape under his watch, as that would be considered a disgrace in his military career. Nevertheless, this time, Sergeant Bana Troya had come with men to capture the deserter Idiyeh Alue. Bana was a person who distinguished between public and private matters; he did not want Idiyeh to escape under his watch, as that would be considered a disgrace in his military career. "Idiyeh, come out!" Bana Troya shouted, but in reality, he did not see Idiyeh.

The Mysore Palace is shrouded in a dim red light, appearing as if it were a mirage.

Wind and rain are intertwined, with flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder

"Idiye! As a soldier of the Empire, do you not feel ashamed? Your actions will bring disgrace to the Alue family! For the honor of the Empire and the family, please come down!" Bana roared in the rain.

Idiye did not spare Baba Lao Ren even after he raised his hands. A sharp knife was plunged deep into Baba Lao Ren's chest. The knife was slanted at Idye's waist, and it was easy to pull out. Baba Lao Ren's eyes widened in terror, his thick eyebrows raised, and he opened his mouth, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The blood splattered onto Idye, carrying a fresh metallic scent that excited him. Idye thrust his arm forcefully once more, pulled back again, and Baba Lao Ren slowly collapsed to the ground. The blood splattered onto Idye, carrying a fresh metallic scent that excited him. Idye thrust his arm forcefully once more, pulled back again, and Baba Lao Ren slowly collapsed to the ground

By the roadside, a massive branch of an ancient tree fell to the ground, emitting a strange burnt odor

Idiye dropped the head of the old Baba and picked up the ladder to exit the temple. The rain continued to pour heavily. The wooden door of the temple was being battered, on the verge of collapse. Bana's voice was clear from outside the door: "Hurry, put in more effort." Idiye ran to a corner of the courtyard, a place he had scouted long ago. He leaned the ladder against the wall and climbed up to the top of the wall. Sitting on the wall, Idiye pulled the ladder up; he was not foolish enough to leave the ladder for Bana. Bana's voice was clear from outside the door: "Hurry, put in more effort." Idiye ran to a corner of the courtyard, a place he had scouted long ago. He leaned the ladder against the wall and climbed up to the top of the wall. Sitting on the wall, Idiye pulled the ladder up; he was not foolish enough to leave the ladder for Bana. Without the ladder, this moss-covered stone wall, on such a rainy day, even if Bana were a lizard, he would not be able to climb up.

The old man Baba opens the door

"Who? Who is knocking at the door? They are about to break it down!" In the lodge, the old Baba, who guards the temple, had not yet fallen asleep. Which reckless young monk has come looking for something lost, he wondered. "Hanuman, Hanuman, come, let us go take a look." At the old Baba's call, a monkey jumped out of the darkness and climbed onto the old Baba's shoulder

This is a story told by Professor Zeng Ping to Shen Mo and Xia Xiaowei, and we will use it as the beginning of this novel. Buddhist teachings emphasize the principle of dependent origination, and this story serves as the origin of this novel

"Idiyeh, you can't escape!" Bana continued to shout in a high and low voice, the sound growing closer to the temple.

The sky over Mysore is particularly strange. Large patches of clouds hang in the sky, as if they have just been soaked in plasma, damp and terrifyingly red

The wooden door was smashed open, and in the darkness, a soldier saw a shadowy figure swaying on the wall, shouting: "Look! Over there..."

Bang, bang..." Bana was commanding the soldiers to smash the wooden door of the temple

"Be sensible, don't move! If you move even a little, I will kill you!" Idiye aimed the firearm at Baba's chest. The monkey, known as Hanuman, was startled and let out a scream before running away. The firearm had already been soaked by the rain and would not fire. Idiye was aware of this, but Baba was not. Idiye knew that Baba was unaware, which is why he continued to press the firearm against Baba's chest.

The stooped old man and the innocent child kneel devoutly in the dust, with the yellow earth covering their knees

The rain continues to fall incessantly.

Idiye took out the bandage he had brought with him, dressed the wound on his leg, stood up, and stretched his left leg. Fortunately, although there was some pain, it was manageable. Idiyé was a seasoned soldier, and to him, this minor injury was nothing significant

The old man Baba woke up in a pool of blood. He opened his eyes and saw Idiye climbing up the ladder. Suddenly, Baba realized something: No! He must not succeed! Baba shouted in his heart. He used all four limbs to crawl out of the room, rainwater poured over him, instantly soaking his clothes. The old man Baba crawled bit by bit through the mud towards the temple.

The old man Baba had already climbed in front of the statue, extending his hand, intending to shake the ladder, but his arms had lost their usual strength, and the ladder remained unmoved

No! Do not... The voice in Baba's heart was loud, but the voice from his mouth was weak; his throat could hardly produce sound. At this moment, Baba had already crawled into the main hall and witnessed Idiye's actions. Baba was crawling towards the direction of the statue, struggling as he crawled.

Idiye raised the ladder with both hands and forcefully threw it down the cliff. Apart from the rock beneath his feet, the surroundings were all steep cliff walls. Idie had spent an entire year familiarizing himself with these terrains. Next to the rock stood a thick beech tree, from which Idie took a long rope from his waist. One end was tied to the trunk, while the other end was secured around his waist. Idie gripped the rope tightly with both hands and cautiously descended the cliff.

Darkness has finally descended—like a crow suddenly returning to its nest, its wings carrying the wind, its feathers bearing the rain

Hanuman, where is Hanuman? Only Hanuman can help. The old man Baba put his finger in his mouth and whistled. Hanuman, that monkey, suddenly leaped out from the dark beam and pounced on Idiye from mid-air. The ladder fell, and Idiye crashed heavily to the ground. Hanuman still held Idiye tightly, his sharp claws digging into the flesh of Idiye's shoulder. Idiye, holding a knife in his right hand, stabbed backward, hitting Hanuman's neck perfectly. Hanuman struggled a few times and then fell silent. Hanuman was dead

Idiye reached out to move the ladder that had fallen to the ground, and suddenly discovered Baba, the old man, lying on the floor. Baba was already on the brink of death, watching Idie’s actions helplessly, his breathing becoming increasingly labored. Idie realized that Baba was not yet dead; he had crawled into the temple from the gatehouse. Idie discarded the ladder in his hand, swiftly grabbed Baba's thick hair with his left hand, drew out a dagger with his right hand, and with a swift motion, severed Baba's head. Baba's blood gushed from his neck, splattering Idie’s face with droplets of blood. Idie held Baba's head in his hand, raising it before him. Baba's eyes still burned with fury, staring directly at the robber. Idie's sharp knife was raised once more, aimed at Baba's eyes. In an instant, Baba's eyeballs turned into two pools of liquid, slowly flowing out from their sockets.

The right eye of the statue had detached from its socket, and the eyeball was clenched in Idiye's palm. At that moment, a thunderous roar erupted, and a powerful flash of lightning streaked across the night sky, illuminating the entire hall through the doors and windows. The statue, now devoid of its eyes, stared hollowly at Idiye, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

Idiye rushed out of the door, passed through the curtain of rain, and ran to the front of the great hall, lifting one foot. Due to the dampness, the door hinge emitted a series of "squeaks." Idiye brought over a ladder; he was familiar with this place, as familiar as he was with his own home. He knew where the ladder was placed, and he even knew how many nails were on it. He had been planning for tonight for a long time. Idiye leaned the ladder against the statue of Borogamo, the top of the ladder just touching the bridge of the statue's nose. Everything was just right, everything was perfectly aligned. ... Idiye set down his firearm and climbed up the ladder ...

Lightning suddenly tore through the night sky, followed by a thunderclap that seemed to come from nowhere

Bana had a pair of owl-like eyes, capable of seeing things in the dark that ordinary people could not, especially since Idiye was his old friend. "Idiye, come down quickly!" Bana waved his hand, and several soldiers instinctively raised their rifles, aiming at Idiye.

Goodbye, Bana. Goodbye, friends!" Idie said as he set the ladder against the stone wall outside. He did not want to jump down, as his legs were still aching slightly; having the ladder made things much easier. Idie calmly descended the ladder. When his feet landed on the protruding rock, he felt extremely comfortable inside. He knew that the first step of his plan had succeeded. The temple was built against the mountain; although the distance from the temple gate to this wall was only a little over twenty meters, if Bana and the others wanted to go around from outside the temple wall to the place where he was now standing, they would have to run several dozen miles along the mountain path. When his feet landed on that protruding rock, he felt extremely comfortable inside. He knew that the first step of his plan had succeeded. The temple was built against the mountain; although the distance from the temple gate to this wall was only a little over twenty meters, if Bana and the others wanted to go around from outside the temple wall to the place where he was now standing, they would have to run several dozen miles along the mountain path. By that time, he would have already run into the control area of the British Empire.

Old Baba had witnessed French soldiers using muskets to kill, and with a loud "bang," a blood hole would appear in a person's body. Old Baba did not want a blood hole to appear on his own body, so he obediently raised his hands.

People scattered in panic, in a state of extreme fear